Scripture Reading: Isaiah 6 | Sabbath: September 28, 2024
Memory Verse: Isaiah 6:8
Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Weekly Proverb: Proverbs 3:31
Proverbs 3:31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
Introduction: Many miracles were performed by prophets and apostles. Miracles may impress, but some prophets never worked a miracle. They all had the same duty. They all did what?

1. God needs messengers. They are called prophets. What offer was made to Isaiah? Is this job voluntary? Isaiah 6:8.
Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
2. What impressive display accompanied Paul’s offer? Did he accept the life-long assignment? Acts 9:1-6.
Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Acts 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Acts 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
3. Once someone has accepted this job, and the job proves difficult, can the prophet resign and take up his old job? Hebrews 6:4-8, (Jonah 1, 2, 3).
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Hebrews 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Hebrews 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Hebrews 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
Hebrews 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
4. What does a prophet do? What is the one word that describes the duty of the prophet? Ezekiel 33:1, 2.
Ezekiel 33:1 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 33:2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
5. His responsibility is to do what? v 3.
Ezekiel 33:3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
Answer: Ezekiel did not have a trumpet. Isaiah, Daniel, and Paul did not have trumpets. The trumpet is figurative speech for preaching the words of God.
6. If a hired employee fails to do his job, there will be consequences. If the prophet fails to do his job, what are the consequences? v 6.
Ezekiel 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
7. Balak saw that Israel was a mighty nation, and that they occupied his land. What was Balak’s request of Balaam? Numbers 22:6, (1-6).
Numbers 22:6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
8. As a prophet of God, Balaam knew what his duty to God was. What was his answer to Balak? v 18.
Numbers 22:18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.
9. God gives Balaam leave to go to Balak. When they meet, what does he remind Balak of? v 38.
Numbers 22:38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
10. God puts the very words in the prophet’s mouth. To the surprise of Balak, what does Balaam prophesy? Numbers 23:5-11.
Numbers 23:5 And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.
Numbers 23:6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.
Numbers 23:7 And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.
Numbers 23:8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?
Numbers 23:9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
Numbers 23:10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
Numbers 23:11 And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
11. He does his duty; blessing Israel again and again. Once again, what does he remind Balak of? Numbers 24:12, 13, (10-25).
Numbers 24:12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
Numbers 24:13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?
Note: Balaam is an excellent example of a man that understood his relationship with his Creator. He understood his duty as a prophet of his God. Unfortunately, his desire for reward was his ruin. Jude 1:11.
Jude v11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12. Before Jesus left the earth, what duties were given to Peter? What duties were given to all the apostles? What duties are given to us today? John 21:15-17.
John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love
John 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Conclusion: The prophets were all God’s messengers, watchmen, and spokesmen. They warned Israel and they prophesied of the future to come. There are still many of their words to be fulfilled. It is also our duty to teach those words to others.